Receiver for a system for transmitting light, system for transmitting light, and method for operating a system for transmitting light

Abstract

A receiver for a system for transmitting light, includes a camera having an image sensor, a light-sensitive area of the image sensor including a plurality of lines of light-sensitive elements, the image sensor being configured such that the light-sensitive area of the image sensor is scanned line by line or column by column, and an attachment element disposed such that light impinging on the light-sensitive area of the image sensor first passes through the attachment element. The attachment element includes strip-shaped, contoured regions and strip-shaped, planar regions. The contoured regions and the planar regions are disposed alternately in a transverse direction. The contoured regions have a constant cross section in an advance direction extending perpendicular to the transverse direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receiver for a system for transmitting light, comprising
 a camera including an image sensor, a light-sensitive area of the image sensor including a plurality of lines of light-sensitive elements, the image sensor adapted to scan the light-sensitive area line by line and/or column by column; and   an attachment element arranged such that light impinging on the light-sensitive area of the image sensor first passes through the attachment element, the attachment element including a plurality of strip-shaped, contoured regions and a plurality of strip-shaped, planar regions;   wherein the contoured regions and the planar regions are arranged alternately in a transverse direction; and   wherein the contoured regions have a constant cross-section in an advance direction extending perpendicular to the transverse direction.   
     
     
         2 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element is arranged as a film and/or a plate, and the planar regions have a constant material thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver according to  claim 2 , wherein the contoured regions include recesses and a lesser material thickness than the planar regions. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver according to  claim 2 , wherein the contoured regions include protrusions and a greater material thickness than the planar regions. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the contoured regions includes recesses and a lesser material thickness than the planar regions, and at least one of the contoured regions include protrusions and a greater material thickness than the planar regions. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured regions have an at least approximately semi-circular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured regions have a semi-circular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent of one of the planar regions is greater in the transverse direction than an extent of one of the contoured regions in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent in the transverse direction of one of the planar regions is at least double the size of an extent in the transverse direction of one of the contoured regions, and/or the extent in the transverse direction of one of the planar regions is no greater than ten times the size of the extent in the transverse direction of one of the contoured regions. 
     
     
         10 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , further comprising a receiving unit including a first receiving element and a second receiving element displaceable relative to the first receiving element, wherein the camera is arranged in the first receiving element, and the attachment element is arranged in the second receiving element. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein an extent in the transverse direction of one of the planar regions is at least double the size of an extent in the transverse direction of one of the contoured regions. 
     
     
         12 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the extent in the transverse direction of one of the planar regions is no greater than ten times the size of the extent in the transverse direction of one of the contoured regions. 
     
     
         13 . The receiver according to  claim 11 , wherein the extent in the transverse direction of one of the planar regions is no greater than ten times the size of the extent in the transverse direction of one of the contoured regions. 
     
     
         14 . A system for transmitting light, comprising:
 a receiver, including:
 a camera including an image sensor, a light-sensitive area of the image sensor including a plurality of lines of light-sensitive elements, the image sensor adapted to scan the light-sensitive area line by line and/or column by column; and 
 an attachment element arranged such that light impinging on the light-sensitive area of the image sensor first passes through the attachment element, the attachment element including a plurality of strip-shaped, contoured regions and a plurality of strip-shaped, planar regions; and 
   a transmitter including at least one controllable light source adapted to emit light modulated according to a specified data stream;   wherein the contoured regions and the planar regions are arranged alternately in a transverse direction; and   wherein the contoured regions have a constant cross-section in an advance direction extending perpendicular to the transverse direction.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the attachment element is arranged between the light source and the camera. 
     
     
         16 . A method for operating the system recited in  claim 14 , comprising:
 scanning line-by-line and/or column-by-column the light-sensitive area of the image sensor; and   processing a first image projected onto the light-sensitive area by the contoured regions of the attachment element separately from a second image projected onto the light-sensitive area by the planar regions of the attachment element.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising detecting the data stream from the first image, according to which the light source of the transmitter emits modulated light. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising detecting an optical image from the second image. 
     
     
         19 . The receiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the contoured regions and the planar regions are arranged alternately in the transverse direction on a same side of the attachment element. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the contoured regions and the planar regions are arranged alternately in the transverse direction on a same side of the attachment element.